There have been several threads on Mudcat taking offense at the way the mainstream media dismisses and mocks folk music, but that's nothing compared to the reaction of some of the posters here who seem to feel that any singer who chooses a genre other than folk music is beneath consideration, and that any music that isn't folk music, or tradtional music, or whatever we want to call it (I don't want to go there...) is somehow tainted or inferior. What a narrow, limited way to approach music. I listen almost exclusively to folk music, usually traditional - and within that I include many ethnic types of music so the spectrum is quite broad. My CD collection consists almost entirely of traditional music of one kind or another. But I can still appreciate other genres of music - including some pop, broadway, opera, etc. I enjoy singers like Shirley Bassey, Liza Minelli, Elvis Presley, Charles Aznavour and (I confess) Enrico Macias.   There are certain voices that are just 'gifted' - I woulc include in that category Amalia Rodriguez, Elvis Presley, Julio Iglesas (not his choice of material - his voice), Willie Nelson and, I believe. Susan Boyle. I don't think she's only destined for 15 minutes of fame. It reminds me a little of John McDermott, who made a CD recording of "Danny Boy" for his mother that somehow got into the hands of a music producer. He's got a spectacular voice too, although I don't much care for his choice of songs.

I'm glad she got her big break. I hope life takes her in wonderful directions she never dared to dream of.